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A review by beatrice_apetrei
Angel Time by Anne Rice
3.0
I am a great fan of Anne Rice’s writings. I loved her way of giving life to a character : she started from the origins and went on with the family tree, history and characters till present time when, normally, she continued the story line with the protagonists. All that history helps you understand better the characters and the plot.
And even more, her imagination made me enjoy her books even more ( I’m referring to Vampire Chronicles here, also about Mayfair witches) . There are not many writers willing to use strange things or unpopular subjects, unusual theories, myths and so on, in their books. I admire Anne because she was always interested in the ‘not-so-normal’ area and gave us a peek on everything she knew.
Of course everyone should be aware of the fact that it’s all fantasy and supernatural (which means that none of it is real!!!) but it’s still enjoyable; plus, sometimes we need to live in a whole different world for a few minutes.
Angel Time centers on Toby O’Dare, an assassin that once wished to become a priest (or a monk, whatever). As he goes in another mission to kill someone, he encounters an angel that gives him a chance to become a better person, by saving people back in the past.
Ok, I loved the idea (it’s actually brilliant) and I bought the book after reading some reviews (most of them not so heartening, but as I know Anne Rice, her writing style isn’t pleasant for everyone, so I believed that those who didn’t like it, weren’t fans of her earlier works either – I was wrong) and after a looooot of thinking ‘is it worth it or is it not?’. I found out that if you want an easy read or something new, it is worth it. But it’s nothing like her past works. It’s nothing like the old Anne Rice.
Have you ever thought how would it be if you, by mistake , or by purpose, would kill someone ? Would it be easy to get over it, would you regret it for the rest of your life? Would it destroy you, tear you apart until there's nothing left?
I think so, at last you'd end up in a loony bin, or in a church as a monk, but it would still be overwhelming.
During this read, I've never felt that Toby thought much about it. No nightmares ? No flashbacks? No nothing ? He accepted too easily, I believe, his past.
The things I didn't like are : the lack of her old, interesting dialogue; the abrupt change in the character (I mean, he was a serial killer, he couldn't have possibly changed so rapid) I would have loved paragraphs about the changes that occurred deep inside him, some thoughts, something ; the little-to-almost-not-at-all history.
WHERE ARE YOU ANNE? I couldn't sense much of her in this book.
I know she went through some changes in beliefs, but I never thought that it would change her writing style so much. Or maybe it’s just this book that it’s different. I intend to read some more of her new released books so I can have a clear idea of the new Rice.
I am a little disappointed. Fortunately, there are a lot of her past works that I haven’t read yet.
Firstly I gave it 4 or 5 stars, maybe because I liked the idea. But , seeing that I usually analyze a book after finishing it and after reading some more with the same, not necessarily plot, but ‘hidden’ ideas, I came to the conclusion that this deserves a 3 stars, or 3.5. But I’ll go with 3 rather than 4.
And even more, her imagination made me enjoy her books even more ( I’m referring to Vampire Chronicles here, also about Mayfair witches) . There are not many writers willing to use strange things or unpopular subjects, unusual theories, myths and so on, in their books. I admire Anne because she was always interested in the ‘not-so-normal’ area and gave us a peek on everything she knew.
Of course everyone should be aware of the fact that it’s all fantasy and supernatural (which means that none of it is real!!!) but it’s still enjoyable; plus, sometimes we need to live in a whole different world for a few minutes.
Angel Time centers on Toby O’Dare, an assassin that once wished to become a priest (or a monk, whatever). As he goes in another mission to kill someone, he encounters an angel that gives him a chance to become a better person, by saving people back in the past.
Ok, I loved the idea (it’s actually brilliant) and I bought the book after reading some reviews (most of them not so heartening, but as I know Anne Rice, her writing style isn’t pleasant for everyone, so I believed that those who didn’t like it, weren’t fans of her earlier works either – I was wrong) and after a looooot of thinking ‘is it worth it or is it not?’. I found out that if you want an easy read or something new, it is worth it. But it’s nothing like her past works. It’s nothing like the old Anne Rice.
Have you ever thought how would it be if you, by mistake , or by purpose, would kill someone ? Would it be easy to get over it, would you regret it for the rest of your life? Would it destroy you, tear you apart until there's nothing left?
I think so, at last you'd end up in a loony bin, or in a church as a monk, but it would still be overwhelming.
During this read, I've never felt that Toby thought much about it. No nightmares ? No flashbacks? No nothing ? He accepted too easily, I believe, his past.
The things I didn't like are : the lack of her old, interesting dialogue; the abrupt change in the character (I mean, he was a serial killer, he couldn't have possibly changed so rapid) I would have loved paragraphs about the changes that occurred deep inside him, some thoughts, something ; the little-to-almost-not-at-all history.
WHERE ARE YOU ANNE? I couldn't sense much of her in this book.
I know she went through some changes in beliefs, but I never thought that it would change her writing style so much. Or maybe it’s just this book that it’s different. I intend to read some more of her new released books so I can have a clear idea of the new Rice.
I am a little disappointed. Fortunately, there are a lot of her past works that I haven’t read yet.
Firstly I gave it 4 or 5 stars, maybe because I liked the idea. But , seeing that I usually analyze a book after finishing it and after reading some more with the same, not necessarily plot, but ‘hidden’ ideas, I came to the conclusion that this deserves a 3 stars, or 3.5. But I’ll go with 3 rather than 4.